Dispenser for powdered or granular materials with a threadedly engaging reversible cover



Aug. 14, 1951 H. c. LAW 2,563,946

DISPENSER FOR POWDERED OR GRANULAR ERIALS WITH A ADED THRE LY ENGAGING REVERSI COVER Filed NOV. 16, 1948 INVENTOR. HOME/Q C. in w HTWENEYJ i atenteci Aug. 14, 11951 UNITED STATES PATEN -cruel;

DISPENSER FOR POWDERED R GRANULAR MATERIALS WITH A THREADEDLY EN- nome. REVERSIBLE o'ov R I Homer 0. Law, Seattle, Wash. Application November 16,1948, Serial No. 60,235

2 Claims.

This inventionrelates to jthose types of dispensers for powdered or granulated materials generally referred to' "as salt shakers, an'd'it has reference more particularly to improvements or modifications in dispensers of that kind described and illustrated in my U. S. Patent No. 2,505,412 dated April 25, 1950; it being the principal object of this invention to provide a shaker dispenser, for salt or the like, wherein the top or cover member may be employed to seal the receptacle when such is desired.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shaker for salt, pepper, or other granular or powdered material, comprising a container having a top member which, in its normal position of application to the receptacle, serves as a shaker top for the dispensing of the contained material, but which top may be easily and readily reversed in its position of application, and as so applied will serve as an air tight closure member for the receptacle.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction and combination of parts, and their mode of use as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central, vertical section of a dispenser for granular or powdered material, em-

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the shaker top as applied in an inverted position to serve as an air tight closure member for the container.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the shaker top as applied for normal use to the container mouth.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of a shaker top of an alternative form.

Referring more in detail to the drawings-- In its present preferred form of construction, the dispenser comprises a container [0 for the material that is to be dispensed. This is provided at the top with an opening of substantial size defined by a cylindrical or circular wall portion designated by numeral II in Figs. 3 and 4, which provides an annular seat against which the top or cover portion I2 of the dispenser is applied.

Fixed in the container and extending coaxially within the top opening, is a post l3. Preferably this post is fixed to or formed integrally with the base or bottom wall of the receptacle, as seen in Fig. 1. The upper end portion of the post extends In through the top and even with or just above the level of the top opening and is threaded along'its upper end portion as indicated at l 5.

The top, orcover member l2 for the container, is circular and preferably of the cross-sectional shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but may vary therefrom. It is formed at its axial center with a threaded hole [6, extended entirely therethrough, for threading the top onto the post either in normal or inverted position.

The cover, or top [2, has a diameter substantially equal to that of the upper end or mouth portion of the container, and in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, is provided about its peripheral edge with a conically beveled surface providing a seat I! that is adapted, in the normal application of the top to the container, as in Figs. 1 and 4, to

engage against the inner surface or inner corner edge of the opening.

Formed in this beveled surface of the top member, at regularly or at desirably spaced intervals, are channels 20 through which the salt, or other material of the container, may be dispensed when the top is applied as in Fig. 4.

The outer surface of the top member is smooth, and as best shown in Fig. 4, is somewhat upwardly arched. About its periphery, the top surface rounds into the beveled edge surface. By applying the top l2 to the post l3 in an inverted position, as shown in Fig. 3, the said outer surface of the top may be engaged tightly against the edge of the mouth of the container and the container closed tightly against possible loss of material in an air tight seal. This latter mode of application of the top makes possible the tight closing that is desirable for storage or packing of the container, or for keeping the material free of any moisture or insects.

As an additional feature, the upper end of the post [3 may be of such length as to be exposed at the top and can be marked either by color or letter to designate its use for salt or pepper or other material.

In the design of the shaker top shown in Fig. 5, as an alternative, the top l2 has a fiat peripheral under surface ll adapted to be closed tightly against the mouth, and in this surface the channels 20 are provided. This top also may be applied in an inverted position to close the shaker.

It is readily apparent that changes or modifications in design might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser of the character described, comprising a container having a top opening, a post fixed in the container and extended centrally into said opening, and a top of disk like form and having a central threaded opening therethrough whereby it is adapted to be threaded onto said post either in a normal or in a reversed position to close against the container over the said opening; said top having a beveled peripheral surface at one side formed with dispensing channels through which the contents of the container may be dispensed when the top is applied in normal position, and having a substantially flat, oppoe site surface adapted to close against the cone tainer to seal the top opening when the top is applied in a reversed position.

2. A dispenser of the character described com: prising a container having a top opening defined by a circular wall, a post fixed in the container and extended into said opening centrally thereof, and; a top, for the container having a threaded opening centrally thereof whereby it is threaded onto said post; said top having a conically beve e l ed peripheral surface adapted to be seated against the inner peripheral edge of the container opening and said surface having dispensing channels therein and said top being reversible on the post and having a top surface that may be closed against the periphery of the mouth to seal the container.

HQMEB C. LAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 963,890 Sprinkle Aug. 30, 1910 1,208,099 Cornell Dec. 12, 1916 2,015,343 Jackson Sept. 24, 1935 2,048,118 Gonen et al July 21, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS u ber Coun r D e 595 Germany -4-1---,-.-. April 192 

